Project Updates

Whooping Crane Update – February 11, 2019

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month Whooping Cranes either stayed at their wintering locations, or some have started to move north. A huge thank-you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation, and all the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population. This report is produced by the International Crane Foundation for the Whooping Crane Eastern Partnership.

Population Estimate

The current estimated population size is 100 (45 F, 52 M, 3 U). To the best of our knowledge, as of 11 February approximately 11 Whooping Cranes are in Illinois, 34 are in Indiana, 9 are in Kentucky, 5 are in Tennessee, 16 are in Alabama, 3 are in Georgia, 5 are in Florida, and 1 is in Louisiana. There is also one female Whooping Crane from the Louisiana Non-Migratory Population (L4-17) with EMP cranes at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. See maps below.

2018 Wild-hatched birds

W1_18 (F) was last seen in November with parents 12_11 and 5_11 in Knox Co, IN. The family group has not been seen during December or January.

W3_18 (F) has not been seen during December or January, although is likely in Kentucky with parents 24_09 and 42_09.

W5_18 (M) is with parents W3_10 and 8_04 in Greene Co, IN.

W6_18 (M) is with his parents 1-04 and 16-07 in Lawrence Co, IL.

W10_18 (U) is with its parents 4-08 and 23-10 in Greene Co, IN.

2018 Parent-reared Cohort

73_18 (F) and 74_18 (M) are with their parent, 16_11 (M), in Jasper Co, IN.

77_18 (M) is in Sarasota Co, FL.

2017 Wild-hatched birds

W3_17 (F) and W7_17 (F) are both at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL, along with about a dozen other Whooping Cranes.

2017 Parent-reared Cohort

19_17 (M) is in Jackson Co, AL, and was with 25_17 (M) who died since the last report (see below).

28_17 (M) was with 39-17 (F) in Jasper Co, IN. Then 39-17 moved south to Jackson Co, IN. It is unknown yet whether 28_17 went with her.

24_17 (M) is still in Alachua Co, FL.

72_17 (M) is still in Jefferson Co, TN.

38_17 (F) is with 63-15 (M) in Randolph Co, IL.

2017 Costume-Reared Cohort

7_17 (F) is with 4_14 (M) in Webster Co, KY.

4_17 (M) and 6_17 (F) are in Fulton Co, KY.

1_17 (M), 2_17 (F), and 3_17 (M) are in Morgan Co, AL at Wheeler NWR.

8_17 (F) is now in Crisp Co, GA.

Winter Distribution

To the best of our knowledge, these cranes are in the following states, or were reported there during January or early February. It is possible the cranes have moved to new locations by the end of the month. The remaining cranes’ locations are unknown.

25-17 was euthanized in January after sustaining injuries that are believed to have come from a powerline collision.

Confirmed Whooping Crane locations as of 11 February 2019

Whooping Crane Update – January 7, 2019

Below is the most recent update for the Eastern Migratory Population of Whooping Cranes. In the last month the remaining Whooping Cranes have reached their wintering locations. A huge thank-you to the staff of the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Departments of Natural Resources of flyway states, the International Crane Foundation, and all of the volunteers who help us keep track of the cranes throughout the year. We appreciate your contribution to the recovery of the Whooping Crane Eastern Migratory Population.

Population Estimate

The current estimated population size is 101 (45 F, 53 M, 3 U). To the best of our knowledge, as of 7 January approximately 11 Whooping Cranes are in Illinois, 33 are in Indiana, 9 are in Kentucky, 6 are in Tennessee, 18 are in Alabama, 2 are in Georgia, and 5 are in Florida. There is also one female Whooping Crane from the Louisiana Non-Migratory Population (L4-17) with EMP cranes at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL. The remaining birds’ locations have not been confirmed in the last month. See maps below.

2018 Wild-hatched birds

W1_18 (F) was last seen in November with parents 12_11 and 5_11 in Knox Co, IN. The family group has not been seen during December.

W3_18 (F) has not been seen during December, although is likely in Kentucky with parents 24_09 and 42_09.

W5_18 (M) is with parents W3_10 and 8_04 in Greene Co, IN.

W6_18 (M) is with his parents 1-04 and 16-07 in Lawrence Co, IL.

W10_18 (U) is with its parents 4-08 and 23-10 in Greene Co, IN.

2018 Parent-reared Cohort

16_11 (M), 73_18 (F), and 74_18 (M) are in Jasper Co, IN, in the same area as 39_17 (F).

77_18 (M) is in Sarasota Co, FL.

2017 Wild-hatched birds

W3_17 (F) and W7_17 (F) are both at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL, along with about a dozen other Whooping Cranes.

2017 Parent-reared Cohort

19_17 (M) and 25_17 (M) are in Jackson Co, AL.

28_17 (M) was last reported in early December in Jasper Co, IN.

24_17 (M) is in Alachua Co, FL.

72_17 (M) is in Jefferson Co, TN.

38_17 (F) is with 63-15 (M) in Randolph Co, IL.

39_17 (F) is in Jasper Co, IN in the same area as 16_11, 73_18, and 74_18.

2017 Costume-Reared Cohort

7_17 (F) and 4_14 (M) are in Webster Co, KY.

3_17 (M) is now at Wheeler NWR in Morgan Co, AL.

4_17 (M) and 6_17 (F) are in Hickman Co, KY.

1_17 (M), 2_17 (F) are in Morgan Co, AL at Wheeler NWR.

8_17 (F) has also turned up in Morgan Co, AL at Wheeler NWR.

Winter Distribution

To the best of our knowledge, these cranes are in the following states, or were reported there during December. It is possible the cranes have moved to new locations by the end of the month. The remaining cranes’ locations are unknown.